Display stand



1959 w. M. SHOFFNER 2,915,194

DISPLAY STAND Filed April 8, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

WILLIE M. SHOFFNER 5/ BY ATTORNEYS Dec. 1, 1959 w. M. SHOFFNER 2,915,194

DISPLAY sum) Filed April 8, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

WILLIE M. SHOFFNER ATTORNEYS Dec. 1, 1959 w. M. SHOFFNER DISPLAY STAND 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 8, 1957 FIG-l3 FIG-l5 lmlillli.

INVENTOR.

WILLIE M. SHOFFNER BY W,Ml

ATTORNEYS United States Patent ice DISPLAY STAND Willie M. Shoffner, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The F0- garty Manufacturing Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 8, 1957, Serial No. 651,492 11 Claims. Cl. 211-136) This invention relates to display stands and more particularly to a rotatable display stand having vertically arranged display shelves which are stressed to support additional weight adjacent the outer edges thereof.

Display stands, which often must support a reasonably large number of articles, are liable to have the outer portions of their shelves depressed below horizontal due to the combined weight of the supported articles. This can result in articles sliding from the shelves, and may require that heavy articles be arranged toward the inner portion of the shelf. It may further result in incomplete utilization of available shelf space to overcome the bending tendency of the shelf by decreasing the weight nearthe outer edge.

It is therefore a principle object of this invention to provide a display stand with shelves which are stressed in a manner providing additional support for articles adjacent the outer edges thereof.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a rotatable article display stand having novel means for adjustably securing article supporting shelves to a shelf supporting standard, the supporting means causing the shelf to become slightly concave with the outer edges being raised.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a display stand according to the present invention with portions of the stand broken away to more clearly illustrate mounting features;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a complete display stand;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the lower shelf of the display stand showing the reinforcing and stressing means;

Fig. 4 is a side section through a shelf and in part full, showing one means for securing the shelf to the standard;

Fig.5 is a side section like that of Fig. 4 showing the securing means in the attached position;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 7 is asectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the inner portion of a two section shelf for use with the present display stand;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing one form of standard engaging sleeve for mounting the shelf of Fig. 8 on a sup porting standard;

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective of one-half of a split shelf showing the integral flange'which is clamped by the split sleeve ofFig. 10;

2,915,194 Patented Dec. 1, 1959 Fig. 13 is a side view of a modified shelf and supporting structure showing 'the shelf and clamping sleeve in section;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 with the sleeve in an adjusted position;

Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view of the means for attaching supporting rods to the underside of the shelves as indicated by the line 15-15 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a slightly enlarged sectional view of the supporting standard and sleeve of Fig. 14 and showing the shape of the ends of two supporting rods;

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken along the line 17-17 of Fig. 16; and

Fig. 18 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 18-18 of Fig. 17.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings which illustrates apreferred embodiment of the invention, a supporting base member 20, which includes a generally cylindrically shaped hub 21 and a plurality of outwardly extending ground engaging members or legs 22 which are welded to the hub as at 23, receives an elongated vertically extending supporting standard 25 which has its lower end rotatably journaled within hub 21 by means of an upper bearing 26 and a lower bearing 27. The lower end of supporting standard 25 which extends a distance beyond the lower end of hub 21, has a ring-like collar 30 secured to it by means of a set screw 31 to limit the upward vertical movement of the supporting standard with respect to the hub.

A spacing plate 35, which includes a plurality of fasteners 36 for securing the plate to supporting legs 22, abuts against the lower edge of supporting standard 25 to centrally locate the lower end of elongated conduit 37 within the interior of supporting standard25. The upper end of conduit 37 is positioned in standard 25 by a bearing 38, which also closes the upper end of the standard. Plate 35 is held against the lower edge of standard 25 by nut 39 which is rotatably received on the lower end of conduit 37 and electrical wire 40 extends the complete length of conduit 37 to provide power for illuminating,

means located at the upper end on display stand 42.

A bottom, or base shelf 45 is integrally attached to supporting standard 25 adjacent the upper end of bearing 26. The shelf includes a body 46 and a pair of hexagonally shaped reinforcing plates 47 which are attached to the upper and lower surfaces-thereof. Plates 47 are held on body 46 by bolts 48 and nuts 49 and provide strengthv and rigidity to the inner portion of the shelf. As best shown in Fig. 3, a length of reinforcing angle iron arms 50 extends outwardly from each side of the lower plate 47. Shelf 45 is slightly dished so that the outer portion of body 46 is slightly more elevated than the inner portion, the dished or frustoconical configuration being used togive the outer portion of the shelf additional supporting strength. The frustoconical shape of the body 46 is formed by fixing the inner ends of the arms 50 to the sides of the lower plate 47 at a slight incline to the plane of the plate. Means for fixing the body 46 to the arms 50 includes the spot welding indicated generally at 51. In this manner, the body 46 is made to conform to the incline of the arms 50, as shown in Fig. 1. This, therefore, provides for the stressed elevation of the periphery of the body 46 in relation to its center for additional supporting strength. A modified form of this invention as applied to a rotating table top of a check out counter is disposed in the copending aprently herewith.

Rotation of shelf 45, and supporting standard 25 to l which the shelf is integrally attached, is accomplished by a motor 55 which has a driving wheel 56 operably com S 'nected to shaft 57 for frictional engagement with the 3, lower surface ofthe shelf adjacent the outer edge thereof. Motor 55 is carried on an arm 60 which is in turn pivotally connected to an upwardly extending plate 61, the plate being welded to the upper side of one of the legs 22. To insure contact of driving wheel 56 with the lower surface of shelf 45, a coil spring 62 extends betweenleg 22 and outer portion of arm 60 to one side of motor 55. Since shelf 45 is often ofjconsiderable diameter, e.g., 48", a plurality of triangularly shaped reinforcing webs 63 are attached along one side to the upper reinforcing plate 47 and along the other side to standard 25.

A plurality of article supporting display shelves 70 are vertically spaced on supporting standard 25 throughout the length thereof while. the top end of the standard receives a structure 71 in which advertising, price, or other identifying indicia may be displayed. The indicia carrying structure 71 can of course be illuminated by suitably positioned lighting means 72 which can be operated with power from wire 43. The shelves 70 and structure 71 complete the display stand 42.

Turning to a discussion of the construction of the shelves 70 and the mountingmeans therefor, each display shelf 70 comprises a plate-like body 75 (Fig. 4) having an opening 76, defined by an inner edge 77, receiving a supporting standard 25. The outer edge of body 75 is the form of a downturned flange 78 which preferably carries a generally U-shaped clip 80, which can be used to hold identifying labels. In order that the inner portion of the shelf, i.e., that portion of the shelf adjacent inner edge 77, can be secured: to supporting standard 25, an elongated sleeve 85 having an outwardly turned flange 86 is integrally attached to the underside of shelf 70 to define an elongated passage 87; Passage 87 is axially aligned with opening '76 in shelf 70 to receive standard 25. Sleeve 85 is split longitudinally and hasa pair of outwardly extending flanges 88 which can be drawn together by bolt 89 to adjustably secure the sleeve to supporting standard 25.

A plurality of supporting rods 90 have their flattened outer ends 91 welded to the underside of shelf 70, in the outer portion thereof, at approximately equal angular positions about supporting standard-25. From the point of adjustment on the underside of shelf 70, each supporting rod 99 extends inwardly toward supporting stand 25 for engagement with an adjusting collar 92 which is slidably engaged on the lower end ofsleeve 85. Upward movement of collar 92 produces an upwardly acting force on the outer portion of shelf 70 which tends to elevate the outer portion of the shelf above the inner portion. That is, movement of collar 92 produces a compressive force'within supporting rods 90 which is transmitted to the outer portion of shelf 70 with the result that the outer portion of the shelf will tend to be elevated. In those cases where the compressive force is great enough, the shelf will have its outer portion curved upwardly to occupy a position elevated above the position occupied by the inner portion of the shelf.

As an example of the manner in which a shelf 70 can be secured to standard 25, to achieve increased support adjacent the outer edge, sleeve 85-is vertically located on standard 25 in the desired vertical. position and flanges 83 drawn together. the sleeve is rigidly secured to the standard so that collar 92 is moved vertically upwardly to abut against the lower edges of the flanges 88, as shown in Fig. 5. This movement of collar 92 transmits an upward force through supportingrods 90 to the outer portion of shelf 70and causes-the shelf. to be curved upwardly toward the outer edge; Collar 92. is fixed in its secured position by means With the flanges joined.

so that the semi-circular openings 97 will define a cylin-- drical passage when the shelf halves are bolted or otherwise secured together. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 10, that the upper end of sleeve 101'is deformed slightly to receive the cooperating flanges 105 and urge them into tight contacting relationship.

When the two-part she ves and two-part sleeves are used, the collar 92 can also be constructed of semicylindrical portions. Specifically, halves 110, which have outwardly extending tabs 111 through which nuts 112.

extend to secure the parts 110 together, can comprise the collar 92.

Referring to the construction shown in Fig. 13, adsplay shelfllS with a downwardly extending sleeve 116 are constructed in a manner analogousto shelf 70 and sleeve 85. In this instance however thesupporting rods 117 are pivotally attached to the underside Jf the'shelf by a small mounting fixture 118 which hasa U-shaped portion 119- for receiving the outer end of rod 117.

Theother or inner end of each of said rods has ears 120 which prevent the rodtends from slipping too far into the hole 121 in standard 25. The use of holes 121' in standard 25 to receive the ends of supporting rods:117

is advantageous where the shelf size warrants it. For.

example a display stand utilizing a shelf of 30 diameter can use this supporting arrangement since shelves of.

this size do not require the relatively greater supporting ability of the collar arrangement previously described. The ends 125 of two of the supporting rods 117 are bent inwardly toward supporting standard 25to facilitate entry of the rod ends into holes 121.

Adjustment of the outer portion of shelf 115 above.

the inner portion is accomplished in a manner somewhat the reverse of that usedto adjustshelves 70. That is,

rather than elevating the outer edges of the shelves the rods 117 are mounted within holes 121 and-the inner portion of the shelf depressed untilthe lower edge of sleeve 116 contacts supporting rods 117 as shown in Fig. 14. When this contacting arrangement is achieved, the screw 126. is threaded through.s1eeve 116:intocontact With standard 25 to prevent any further movement, either up or down, on sleeve 116. Obviously since.the-outer portion of the shelf cannot move downwardly due to' the rods 117 the 'inner portion of the shelf willbe depressed relative to the outer portion, thus' providing added support for articles on the shelf adjacent the outer: edge. Such support is materialin reducing sagging of the shelf below horizontaldue to the-weight of articles placed thereon.

While the forms of apparatus herein-described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is'to beunderstood that theinvention is not limited to" these precise forms of apparatus and that changes may be. made therein without departing from the scope of the-in vention which isdefined inthe appended claims;

What is claimed is:

1; A shelf structure for an article display stand having.

a base member includinga hub and an. outwardly extending ground engagingmember providing support for said. display stand,..that improvement comprisinga shelf= supporting standard secured to said hub and extending;

upwardly from said base member, a. shelf. having an inner edge adjacent said standard and. an outer edge;

spaced therefrom and. elevated above said inner edge,

means adjustably securing. said shelf adjacent .said inner. edge to said standard, and suppprbrheansLbeneath. said a h st shelf attached at one end to the outer portion of said shelf and secured in fixed relation to said standard at the other end, said support means having a length such as to elevate said outer edge above said inner edge with resulting maintained compression therein to provide added support for articles on said shelf adjacent said outer edge.

2. A shelf structure for a rotatable article display stand having a supporting base member including a hub and providing support for said display stand, that improvement comprising a shelf supporting standard extending upwardly from said base member and having its lower end rotatably mounted in said hub, a shelf having an inner edge adjacent to and an outer edge spaced from said standard and elevated above said inner edge, means securing the inner portion of said shelf to said standard, and rigid support means attached at one end to the outer portion of said shelf and secured in fixed relation to said standard at the other end, said support means being of a length such as to elevate said outer edge above said inner edge and provide added support for articles on said shelf adjacent said outer edge.

3. In an article display shelf, a supporting standard, said display shelf comprising a p ate-like body including an opening receiving said supporting standard, attaching means on said body adjacent said opening securing said body to said standard, and supporting means connected at one end to an outer portion of said body and connected at their other end to said supporting standard, said supporting means being of such length as to elevate the outer portion of said body relative to the inner portion thereof to impart additional support for articles carried adjacent said outer portion.

4. In an article display shelf, a supporting standard including a plurality of vertically spaced openings, said display shelf comprising a plate-like body including an opening for reception of said supporting standard, a sleeve within the opening in said body and extending outwardly therefrom for attaching an inner portion of said body to said supporting standard above said vertically spaced openings, means for securing said sleeve to said supporting standard, and a plurality of supporting rods attached at one end to the under surface of said plate-like body at an outer portion thereof, the other end of the rods being free for selective positioning within the openings in said supporting standard to produce an upwardly acting force elevating the outer portion of said shelf above the inner portion and added support for articles carried adjacent the outer portion of said shelf.

5. In an article display shelf, a supporting standard, said display shelf comprising a plate-like body including an opening receiving said supporting standard, a sleeve Within the opening in said body and extending outwardly therefrom for attaching the inner portion of said shelf to said supporting standard, a plurality of supporting rods attached at one end to the underside of said platelike body at an outer portion thereof, a vertically movable collar adjustably mounted on said sleeve, and means on said collar for receiving the other ends of said supporting rods, said rods having a length such as to provide for the production of a compressive force therein which tends to elevate the outer portion of said shelf above the inner portion.

6. An article display shelf for attachment to a supporting standard comprising a central reinforcing member,

means for attaching said member to said standard, a plu-- rality of outwardly extended upwardly inclined reinforcing arms each secured at an inner end to said member, av generally circumferential shelf body formed of sheet material, and means for fixing said body to said arms in a flexed condition in conformity with the incline of said arms to provide for the stressed elevation of the periphery of said body in relation to its center.

7. An article display shelf for attachment to a supporting standard comprising a central reinforcing plate having a plurality of flat sides, means for attaching said plate to said standard, a plurality of outwardly extended upwardly inclined reinforcing arms each secured at an inner end to one of said sides of said plate, a generally circumferential shelf body formed of sheet material, and means for fixing said body to said arms in a fiexed condition in conformity with the incline of said arms to provide for the stressed elevation of the periphery of said body in relation to its center.

8. In a rotatably supported article display shelf, a supporting standard, a generally circumferential platelike body including means defining a central opening, attaching means on said body adjacent said opening securing said body to said standard, and supporting means for elevating the periphery of said body in relation to its center including a plurality of rods each having an outer end connected adjacent the periphery of said body and an inner end connected for support by said standard, said rods being of such length as to elevate the periphery of said body relative to the center thereof when so connected to provide additional support for articles carried adjacent said periphery.

9. In a rotatably supported article display shelf, a supporting standard including means defining a plurality of vertically spaced openings, a generally circumferential plate-like body including means defining a central opening, attaching means carried by said body for ad justably securing said body to said supporting standard, and a plurality of supporting rods each having one end thereof attached at the under surface of said body adjacent the periphery thereof, the other end thereof being free for selective positioning within said vertically spaced openings in said supporting standard to produce an elevating force at the periphery of said shelf to elevate said periphery relative to the center of said body for support of articles carried adjacent said periphery.

10. In a rotatably supported article display shelf, a supporting standard, a generally circumferential platelike body including means defining a central opening, a hollow sleeve within said central opening and extending downwardly therefrom including means for attaching said body to said supporting standard, a plurality of supporting rods each having one end attached to the underside of said body adjacent the periphery thereof, a vertically movable collar adjustably mounted on said sleeve, and means on said collar for receiving the other ends of said supporting rods, said rods having a length such as to elevate the periphery of said body relative to the center for the support of articles carried adjacent said periphery.

11. In an article display shelf, a substantially vertical supporting standard, a generally circumferential plate for the support of articles on an upper surface thereof, means centrally securing said plate to said standard, a plurality of elongated support members each having an outer end attached to the lower surface of said plate adjacent the periphery thereof and an inner end, and means for vertically adjustably supporting said inner ends of said members relative to said standard for elevating said plate at said periphery for the support of articles thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 184,362 Fischer Nov. 17, 1876 213,523 Murgatroyd Mar. 25, 1879 1,718,881 Schander June 25, 1929 1,800,916 Waddell Apr. 14, 1931 2,762,513 Zaninovich Sept. 11, 1956 

